Eye exercising machine



EYE 'EXERCISINQ MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 48. 1934 3 Sheets-Shbt 1ATTORNEYl JMW@ MW MM.; H. mm

YE EXERCISING MACHINE l:

original Film Nov. a, 19m swam-sheet 2` INVENTOR.

I Herma/ZJ@ A TTORNEY June gli; 19411. y H. Kmz

original Filed Nov. s, 1934 3 shams-sheet 3 n 72 INVENTOR.

a Her/nig?? l mf r d4 7% ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 1941 EYE EXERCISINGMACHINE Herman Katz, Oakland, Calif.

Application November 8, 1934, Serial No.' 752,082 Renewed September 27,1937 (Cl. 12S-76.5)

12 Claims.

The invention relates to machines arranged for exercising and therebystrengthening and developing the eye muscles and the various eyefunctions.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of the characterdescribed which will afford a movable target for attracting the eyesover a variety of courses of movement which will fully and completelycall upon and exercise all of the eye muscles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eye `exercising machineof the character described which will simultaneouslyY exercise the focusor accommodation and the convergence functions of the eyes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an eye exercisingmachine of the above character which shall afford a stereoscopicarrangement to separate the vision of the eyes one from the other and tosimultaneously exercise the eyes individually both as to angle orconvergence and accommodation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter described-Which may through a variance of light intensity onthe object to which the eyes are attracted, exercise and develop themuscles and nerves controlling the dilation and closing of the iris.

The invention possesses other objects andreatures of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustratedin the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. Itis to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by thesaid drawings and description may be adopted Within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front View of an eye exercising machine constructed inaccordance with my invention and with the front plate thereof removed toshow portions of the inner controlled mechanism.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the machine shown in Figure 1taken substantially on the plane of the line 2--2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially on the planeoi the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view takensubstantially on the plane of the line l--l of Figure 3. Y

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a part of the machine shownin Figure l.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the exercising machine adapted forstereoscopic exercise.

Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the machine shownin Figure.

Figure is a plan view of the machine parts shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is aback elevational view of the illumination switch means usedin connection with the machine of my invention and shown with the backplate thereoi removed.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on theplane of the line Iil-l of Figure 9.

Figure l1 is a schematic wiring diagram for the complete electriccircuit used in connection with the machine.

The eye exercising means of the present invention consists of anobservation unit such as arbi'nocular eye-piece and atarget and asupporting and motivating meansA for said targetfor moving the same in aplurality oi predetermined paths relative to the observation unit. Thelatter means in accordance with the present invention is capable ofreciprocating the target either longitudinally of the lines of sight ofthe eye-piece or across such lines of sight either horizontally orvertically or obliquely or along substantially any other lineintersecting or paralleling or inclined to saidlines of sight. Furtherthe targetY supporting and motivating means is capable of moving saidtarget through rotary or spiral paths with substantially any desiredpositioning of the plane of' said paths relative to saidlines of sightand being further effective to maintain a constant facing of said targetduring the course of itsfmov'ement through any of the aforesaid paths.Asanother feature where stereoscopic binocular vision is desired, Iprovideior a septum which is so arranged and mounted relative to theeyepiece and target to move at one end with said target so as tomaintain separated vision of the eyes and to divide the target properinto a pair of spaced target portions on which may be providedstereograms or the like. In this latter instance a pair of targetsadapted for stereoscopic fusion are preferably provided on suchportions.

In one of the important adaptations of the present machine, the plane ofthe target member is positioned-at substantially right angles to thelines of sight of the observation unit anda stereoscopic binoculareye-piece is used for obtaining singlebinocular fusion of two targetscarried on the target member and the target member is set in a rotarymotion around the aforesaid lines of sight so as tosimultaneouslyjmovethe target in the same direction and to the same extent at all timesthrough closed paths. At the same time, the orienting means for thetarget described in the foregoing is effective to prevent the targetsfrom rocking relative to each other and from overturning during movementthereof, so that they are normally maintained in a pre-selected positionrelative to each other, and are caused to move in such a manner that anystraight line drawn on the surface of either target will move intosuccessive positions which are parallel with each other at all times, sothat single binocular vision thereby may be maintained.

As illustrated in the drawings, the eye exercising machine of myinvention comprises a standard I6 upon which is mounted for rotation ahollow arm I1 which in turn carries a target I8 for attracting the eyes.As here shown, the

arm is mounted on the standard by interengaged bearing portions I9 andZI secured to the arm and standard respectively and is rotatably drivenby a motor 22 which is mounted on the top of the standard and which isprovided with a gear 23 which engages a ring gear 24 on the arm.

As an important feature of my invention, the target is caused onrotation thereof with the arm to automatically turn as the same rotatesso as to remain constantly upright or in other adjusted angular positionat all times. rThus, notwithstanding the rotation of the target with thearm,

any indicia or character carried by the target will at all times bemaintained right side up and facing the patient for viewing. The meansfor so automatically turning the target, as may be best seen in Figures2, 3, and 4, consist of a drive shaft 26 which extends lengthwise in thehollow portion of the arm I1 and which is rotated one completerevolution about its axis, on rotation of the arm I1 through onecomplete revolution, and the unit revolution of the shaft 26 iscommunicated to the target supporting shaft 21 by means of engagedbevel. gears 28 and 29 having a one to one gear ratio. As here shown,rotation of the shaft 26 in conformi-ty to the rotation of the arm I1 iseffected, as may best be seen in Figures 1 and 2, by means of engagedbevel gears 3| and 32 having a one to one gear ratio and which aresecured to the radially inner end of the shaft 26 and to the standard I6at the axis of rotation of the arm respectively. Preferably the targetI3 is secured to the supporting shaft 21 therefore by means of a hinge33 which permits of the positioning of the target to face eitherparallel to the plane of rotation of the arm as shown in Figure 6 or atright angles thereto as shown in Figure 2. Thus, by reason of thisarrangement and as will be readily understood, with the target arrangedas shown in Figure 2 and with the patient seated approximately in theplane of rotation of the arm I1, the eyes of the patient will beattracted up and down vertically while the accommodation function of theeyes will be ever changing to focus the target at its constantly varyingdistance to the eyes. On the other hand with the target turned to faceparallel to the plane of rotation of the arm I1 and with the patientpositioned to the front of the machine, it will be clear that the eyesof the patient will be attracted to follow a circular path of thetarget, thus exercising both the transverse and vertical eye deflectingmuscles while subjecting the focal length of the eye to but a smallchange.

As a further and important feature of my invention, the target I8 isarranged to be disposed at various radial positions on the arm I1 so asto 75 vary the course of movement of the eyes and is further arranged tobe uniformly reciprocally moved over the length of the arm so as toinscribe further and advantageous courses of movement. The means formoving the target along the length cf the arm in the present machinecomprises a carriage 35 which provides a bearing support for the targetsupporting shaft 21 and which is guided for longitudinal movement alongthe arm by means of a pair of spaced side guide rails 34 and which isarranged to be positively driven in its movement by a pair of threadedshafts 36 and 31. As may be best seen from Figure 1, the shafts 36 and31 are driven through an appropriate gear mechanism 38 by means of anelectric motor 39 carried at the inner end of the arm I1. A feature ofthe gear mechanism 38 is its arrangement as here shown to drive theshafts 36 and 31 in opposite directions and means are provided forcausing the operative engagement of the carriage with first the shaft 36for moving the carriage inwardly and then disengaging the shaft 36 andengaging the shaft 31 for moving the carriage outwardly. In the presentembodiment, and as may be best seen from Figures 3 and 4, this meanscomprises a lever 4I which has a pivotal connection 46 intermediate itsends to the carriage and which is provided at each opposite end with athreaded nut segment 42 for threaded engagement with the shafts 36 and31, and becomes so engaged as the lever is oscillated in oppositedirections about the pivot 46, by a spring pressed toggle mechanism 43mounted on the carriage. Means for deflecting the toggle member 43 toeither side of the pivotal connection 46 of the lever so as to engageone of the segments 42 with one of the shafts 36 or 31 is here providedin the form of a pair of beveled projections 44 which extend in oppositelongitudinal directions from the opposite ends of the lever 4I and Whichare positioned to engage and to be raised by a pair of adjustable stopmembers 46 carried on the guide rail 34. As will be seen from Figure 4,each of the members 46 are provided With a roller 45 which on approachof the carriage thereto engages and displaces the beveled end of theprojections 44 to rock the lever about the pivot 46. This pivoting ofthe lever disengages the nut segment 42 from the screw 36 and causes themovement of the toggle mechanism to the other side of the pivotal point4.6 to engage the opposite nut segment 42 with the screw 31 to start theoutward movement of the carriage. Similarly as the carriage approachesthe stop member 46 at the outer end of the arm the co-action of theprojection 44 at the other side of the lever and the roller on the stopmember d6, causes a reverse pivoting of the lever and the re-engagementof the nut 42 with the screw 36 to start the inward movement of thecarriage. As will be thus understood, the stop members 46 in this mannerdefine the end of the movement of the carriage 35 so that as great or assmall a reciprocating movement of the target as is desired may beeffected by merely spacing the stop members 46 an appropriatelongitudinal distance from each other.

In order that the target may be caused to continue to turn in proportionto the rotation of the arm i1 so as to maintain a constant facing of thetarget as above explained and still be capable of longitudinal movementover the arm, I prefer to mount the bevel drive gear 29 for the targetshaft 21 on the shaft 26 in a manner permitting slidable movement of thegear together With the carriage 35 while causing the gear torotate withthelshaft 26. This provision has been here effected, as may benoted fromFigures 3 and 4', by`

shaping the shaft 26 fiat sided and by mounting the gear 29 on a sleeve41 carried by the carriage and which while slidable on the shaft 26 isarranged to rotate therewith.

Preferably and as here shown, the inner operating mechanism in the armI1 is covered and protected by a removable front plate 52 which, as maybe noted from Figure 5, is providedwith longitudinally slotted portions53, 54, and 56 opposite the guide rails 34 and the centrally disposedshaft 26 for the extension through such slotted portions of theadjustable stop members 46 and the target supporting shaft 21.-

In many instances it is desirable to conneithe movement of the target soas to exercise but a single set of eye muscles. For this purpose, Iprefer to hold the arm I1 in some fixed angular position and simplycause the longitudinal reciprocal movement of the target along the arm.For instance, the arm I1 may be fixed in avertical position and thetarget moved up and down thereon so as to cause a simple raisingand-lovv ering of the eyes in following the target, or `the armmay befixed in a horizontal or some inclined position so as to cause the eyesto be movedtransversely either horizontally or obliquely. In the presentmachine I may provide suchan angular holding of the arm I1 againstrotation by mountingv on the standard I6 a spring pressed detent member4B which releasably engagesin a-pluralty of circumferentially arrangedopenings 49 provided in an annular ring plate 5I mounted on the arm I1.

As an additional feature o-f the present machine,` I prefer to constructthe standard I6 with a hinged joint 51 adjacent the upper endthereof soas to permit the movement of the plane of rotationof` the arm I1 fromvertical, as shown in Figure 2, to a horizontal or intermediateposition. This arrangement as will be understood;l provides for all ofthe various movements of the target explained in connection with thevertical plane ofrotation of the arm I1, also in a horizontal orintermediate obliquely disposed plane. Also in order to adjust theheight of the center of rotation of the arm to approximately eyelevel`of the patient, I prefer to construct the standard I6 withtelescopically engaged sections 58 and 59 for adjustably raising orlowering the centerv of rotation of the arm to suit various sizedpatients.

It` will now be clear that among the various movements of the target,the same may be caused to rotate in a plurality of different sizedcircles varying in radius over the length of the armv by leaving themotor 39 idle and energizing the motor 22. If in addition the motor 39is ener` gized, the target will be' caused to move both radially andcircumferentially to inscribe a plurality of spiral paths. Or if themotor 22V is stopped and remainsl idle the arm may be set insubstantially any angular position by means of the detent member 48 andthe target caused to reciprocate over the length of the arm or portionsthereof desired with a simple reciprocating movement. Also, as will beclear, the target in each instance of revolutionof the arm I1 will becaused to automatically turn to maintain the facing and angular relationthereof constant with respect to the patient.

A further and important feature of mymachine is the` provision thereoffor affording a stereo- Scopic exercising off the eyes. Thisexercise-con sistsin the use of a septum for separating the vision ofthe eyes and providing for the separate and independent exercising ofthe eyes along the lines hereinbefore described). 'Ifhe generalarrangement of this feature of the invention is shown` in Figure 6 ofthe drawings and includes a. stereoscopic binocular eye piece 6I, which.is supported on the standard I6 by means of a vertically. adjustablesupporting bracket 62 and Which isi-connected to the center ofthe targetI8 by means of an expansible septum 63 so as to define a pair ofseparate target portions I8' Which may" bein the form of or may supportstereograms or the like adapted for stereoscopic fusion. Preferably, themember I8 is in the form of a casing or frame, as illustrated in Figures2 and 3 for the receipt of various indicia bearing cards, andstereograms and the like upon adjustment as conventional, a fusion ofthe targets is afforded. In order to prevent the septum from buckling orotherwise distorting during the movement of the end thereof connected tothe target, the septum is preferably connected to the stationary eyepiece 6I and rthe movable target I8 by means of horizontally andvertically pivoted members 64 which afford a modified universalconnection between the eye piece and the target. Normally in the use ofthe stereoscopic exercise, the target I8 is moved through but a smalldisplacement so that the expansion required by the septum 63 is butslight. Preferably the eye piece 6I is attached to the brackets 62 bymeans of a swivel connection 66 for enabling universality of adjustmentof the eye piece with respect to the arm I1.

As previously mentioned, one of the important uses of the machine isafforded by adjusting the target I8 eccentrically of the axis ofrotation of the arm and turning the plane of the target l parallel` tothe plane of rotation, as illustrated in Figure 6, and rotating the armwhile the targets If are under stereoscopic observation as illustratedin Figure 3. In this manner binocular fusionlis obtained of the twotargets in the eyes ofthe patient, and the targets are movedsimultaneously in the same direction and to the same extent at all timesthrough closed paths. Further, the targets are held in upright positionthroughout the course of their movement so that single binocular visionmay be maintained. In addition, the rate of movement of the targets maybe simultaneously controlled by means of a rheostat 86 in the elecrticcircuit of the motor, see Figure 10. If at any time it is desired tovary the path of movement of the targets, the motor 39 may be energizedto move the targets along the arm-during rotation to inscribe spiral orother non-circular or eccentric paths generated by a combined circularand radial displacement.

As Will of course be clear the binocular eye piece 6I. may if desired besupported independently of the standard It In` other instances Whereitis advantageous to associate phorometer head with the machine forexamining the eyes with different lenses, a phorometer head may beinterchanged with the stereoscopic head in the bracket 66 or supportedon a similar or other mounting assembly.

In addition to the exercising of the Various muscles used invconnectionwith the moving and focusing of the eyes, I provide also in the presentmachine for the exercising of the muscles and nerves which control thedilation and contraction ofl theiris. This is here effected by causinga'periodic variance of the light intensityon` the target. totherebyproduce a resulting changing of the light opening in the iris of theeye. In the present invention I may illuminate the target by means of apair of lamps 61 mounted at the top of the target and which areenergized as desired by means of an interrupter and control mechanism 68here shown mounted adjacent the top of the standard H5. The mechanism 68is illustrated in detail in Figures 9 and 10 and as here shown include apair of electric switches each having a xed and trip contact 69 and 1|which are arranged to be moved intoY and. from engagement by means of acam 12. As here shown the cam 12 is mounted for rotation on a discmember 13, driven by a motor 14, and which presents a segmental spirallyshaped area for engagement with the trip contact 1| for movement thereofinto engagement with the contact 69. With reference to Figure 9 it willbe noted that by reason of the shape of the cam the closer the contactmembers 1| are moved to the center of the disc 13 the longer will be theperiod of contact between the contact members 1| and 69. To provide thenfor a variable period of closure of the electric circuit through thecontacts 69 and 1| I provide for the selective advancement of thecontact 1i in direction of the center of the disc. This is here providedby means of transversely extending screws 16 which are threaded throughan end of the contact members 1i and which on rotation carry the contactmembers 1I across the face of the disc 13 on a pair of guide members 11.In accordance with the present invention the contact switches 69 and 1|are connected in series with the lamps 61 so as to periodically energizeand disconnect the lamps to illuminate or darken the target. It will benoticed that by means of the individually adjustable switches the periodof illumination and darkness of the lamps may be controlledindependently of each other. This is of importance when used inconnection with the stereoscopic exercise as it aiords an individualcontrol over the dilation and contraction of the iris of each eye. As afurther feature of this arrangement, I provide through the use ofrheostats 18 for the individual control of the intensity of the lamp 61and I provide further through the use of a rheostat 19 for the speedingup or slowing down of the interrupter motor 14.

The complete electric circuit for the machine is illustrated in aschematic diagram shown in Figure 11. As here shown the electric circuitconnectors 8| and 82 are brought in through the base of the standard ofthe machine and connected in series with a master switch 83 and with themotor 22 and the switch and rheostat therefor 8d and 85. A branchcircuit defined by the connectors 81 and 88 is connected to the lightcontrol mechanism 88 and energizes the breaker motor 'id and therheostat and switch therefor 19 and 89. The connector 81 furtherconnects in parallel each of the breaker switches including the contactsS9 and 1I and the rheostat 18 and continues therefrom to the slip rings9| and 92 provided on the arm i1 about the center of rotation thereof.From the slip rings 9| and 92 conductors 93 and @d extend through thearm and to slip rings Qt and 91 provided in the carriage 35 about thetarget supporting shaft 21. (See Figure 4.) From the slip rings 96 and91 conductors 98 and 99 lead through the arm 21 and to the lamps 61mounted at the top of the target and a return conductor leads from thelamp back to a slip ring |82 mounted coincidentally with the slip ringsS9 and 91. From the slip ring |02, a conductor |83 extends to a slipring IM mounted coincidentally with the slip rings 9| and 92 and thenback to the conductor 8S for completion of the lighting circuit.Energization of the motor 39 which causes reciprocation of the targetalong the length of the arm is arranged to be effected on the one sideby a conductor |96 which connects at the inside of the arm to theconductor |03. The other side of the motor is connected through arheostat and switch therefor |01 and |08 to a slip ring E69 which ismounted coincidentaly with the slip rings 9|, 92 and |04, and is thenconnected by a connector ||0 to the line 82 for completion of theelectric circuit therethrough.

I claim:

1. An eye exercising machine comprising, a support, an arm rotatablycarried by said support, a target carried by said arm, and drive meansconnecting said target and arm and support for automatically turningsaid target relative to said arm on rotation of said arm and in adirection opposite to the direction of rotation of said arm.

2. An eye exercising machine comprising, a support, an arm pivotedthereto for rotation, motor means for rotating said arm, a targetcarried by said arm, means for moving said target lengthwise on said armcomprising, a screw extending lengthwise on said arm, motor meanscarried by said arm for rotating said screw, a carriage supporting saidtarget and engageable with said screw.

3. An eye exercising machine comprising, a support, an arm pivotedthereto for rotation, motor means for rotating said arm, a targetcarried by said arm, means for moving said target lengthwise on said armcomprising, a pair of screws extending lengthwise on said arm, motormeans carried by said arm for rotating said screws, means connectingsaid motor and screws for rotating the latter in opposite directions, acarriage supporting said target and movable into and from engagementwith each of said screws alternately, and an automatically reversingmechanism arranged to hold said carriage in engagement with one of saidscrews for movement thereof thereover and then disengage said carriagefrom said screw and engage the same with the other screw.

4. An eye exercising machine comprising, a support, a member rotatablymounted on said support, a target rotatably carried by said membereccentrically to the axis of rotation of said member, and drive meansconnecting said target and member and support effective on rotation ofsaid member to rotate said target in an opposite direction to thedirection of rotation of said member.

5. In an eye exercising machine, a target, a supporting arm movablycarrying said target, a rst driving means carried by said arm andadapted when operatively applied to move said target relative to saidarm in a rst direction, a second driving means carried by said arm andadapted when operatively applied to move said target relative to saidarm in a direction opposite to said rst direction, motive meansconnected to impel each of said driving means, and reversing meansoperative to alternately successively operatively apply said rst andsecond driving means for reciprocating said target on said arm.

6. In an eye exercising machine, a target, a supporting arm movablycarrying said target,

said target being provided with engaging means adapted to engage drivingmeans, a first driving means carried by said arm, a second driving meanscarried by said arm, motive means connected to impel each of saiddriving means, and reversing means for causing said engaging means toalternately successively engage said first and said second drivingmeans, said first driving means being adapted when engaged to displacesaid target in a first direction relative to said arm, and said seconddriving means being adapted when engaged to displace said target in adirection opposite to said iirst direction.

7. In an eye exercising machine, a target, a supporting arm movablycarrying said target, a first driving means carried by said arm andadapted when operatively applied to move said target relative to saidarm in a rst direction, a second driving means carried by said arm andadapted when operatively applied to move said target relative to saidarm in a direction opposite to said iirst direction, motive meansconnected to impel each of said driving means, and reversing meansoperative to alternately successively operatively apply said first andsecond driving means for reciprocating said target on said arm, saidreversing means being adjustable for actuation by the travel of saidtarget to adjustably determined terminal positions on the path of travelof said target relative to said arm. 8. In an eye exercising machine, atarget, a supporting arm movably carrying said target, said target beingprovided with engaging means adapted to engage driving means, a firstdriving means carried by said arm, a` second driving means carried bysaid arm, motive means connected to impel each of said driving means,and reversing means for causing said engaging means to alternatelysuccessively engage said first and said second driving means, said rstdriving means being adapted when engaged to displace said target in arst direction relative to said arm, and said second driving means beingadapted when engaged to displace said target in a direction opposite tosaid first direction, said reversing means comprising adjustableterminal stop means adjustably positioned along the path of travel ofsaid target and adapted to cause said alternate engagement of saidengaging means when said target has reached the positions of said stopmeans in its path of travel relative to said arm.

9. In an eye exercising machine, a fixed suppourt, an arm rotatablycarried by said support, a target having indicia and being rotatablymounted on said arm, and an orienting means comprising mechanical.connections connecting said arm, said support, and said target, forpositively holding said target in successive positions wherein theindicia on said target occupy successive parallel positions as saidtarget rotates with said arm.

10. An eye exercising machine comprising a fixed support, an arm,arm-rotating driving means for rotatably carrying said arm on saidsupport, a target having indicia, target-rotating driving means forrotatably carrying said target on said arm, and coordinating meansconnecting said arm-rotating means and said target-rotating means forcontinuously rotating said target at the same rate and in the oppositesense as the rotation of said arm, whereby the indicia on said targetoccupy successive parallel positions on said target as said targetrotates with said arm.

11. An eye exercising machine comprising a fixed support, an arm,arm-rotating driving means for rotatably carrying said arm on saidsupport, a target having indicia, target-rotating driving means forrotatably carrying said target on said arm, coordinating meansconnecting said arm-rotating means and said target-rotating means forcontinuously rotating said target at the same rate and in the oppositesense as the rotation of said arm, a binocular stereoscopic eyepiece,and an expansible septum pivotally connecting said eye-piece and saidtarget and positioned between the respective lenses of said binoculareye-piece and to divide said target into separate visible parts.

12. Apparatus for the treatment of the eyes, comprising a supportingframe; a target rotatably mounted thereon; an actuating motoroperatively connected to said target to rotate it; a supplementarytarget eccentrically mounted on said first target; and means connectingsaid supplementary target with said frame whereby said supplementarytarget is held from rotation on its axis as its axis revolves about theaxis of said rst target, wherein said connecting means comprises anepicyclic train of gears wherein the rst and last gears have the samenumber of teeth, carried by said rst target and revolving around thefixed gear concentric with the :rst target.

HERMAN KATZ.

